Adam Trent and I visited the swift chimney at the old steam plant at the unsigned Northern State Recreation Area (the defunct Northern State Hospital) just east of Sedro-Woolley (Skagit Co) last night and saw thousands of Vaux Swifts!? When we got within sight of the chimney at 7:30 PM, they were already pouring in, so have no idea just how many there might have been, but by 8 PM we had seen a couple thousand go in.? Abruptly at 8 PM, the last Swift fell in, and the bright lights on the building snapped on.? Many butterfly-like bats accompanied our little hike out of there from our vantage point stream-side.? This was under partly cloudy skies, 62 degrees, high humidity, very pleasant conditions.?

Thanks to Larry Schwitters for directions and encouragement.? I'll append his edited directions below in case you want to go.

Diane Yorgason-Quinn
Wauna WA
Avosetta at hotmail.com
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From: Larry Schwitters <leschwitters at me.com>
Sent: Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:16:33 -0000 (UTC)
Subject: Re: Sedro Woolley Swifts

You want to go to Old Northern State Hospital and read up on the history of this place. ?Its quite a story.

Directions? ?Here is the super deluxe. Go east on Hwy 20 all the way through Sedro Woolley. ?After you obviously leave town you come to a stop light where you can turn left to a golf course. ?Continue straight on 20 to the next no light intersection and turn left (north) on Helmick to (North Skagit Indian Rez?)

Drive .3 miles to the entrance to the main parking lot for the natural area and continue north for .3 miles more to the parking lot for the cemetery.? Walk around the car gate and follow the road as it goes between the barns and then curves back north. ?In a half mile total you come to two new covered picnic spots with two tables each and a porta potty. ?Grab a seat, look to the wsw and find the large smoke stack. ?One can count the swifts going in with binoculars. ?You can get 500 yards closer to the chimney in a 4-5 minute walk ending at the stream bank. ?If you don't have binoculars you need to get as close as you can.? At times along the dirt road you will find yourself surrounded by a disk (frisbee) golf course.?

On your return 30 minutes after sunset you may find Barn Owls flying in
the barns. ?See if you can locate the Great-horned Owl nest in the
largest barn. Pause at the cemetery to feel the presence of 1700 tortured souls whose final resting place was being buried out back